Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES)
In B&NES the Voluntary Sector Team organises the following networks:
B&NES Health and Social Care Network
Meets quarterly and is open to all voluntary and community sector agencies working in health and social care in B&NES. It provides an opportunity for VCS agencies working in the health and social care sector to share information and work together as well as a forum for VCS to discuss issues and consult with policy makers in the statutory sector. The network elects voluntary sector reps onto joint planning groups and receives feedback from them.
Click here for forthcoming meetings
Click here for notes of previous meetings
If you would like to be added to the mailing list or want any further information please complete the enquiry form here
B&NES Voluntary Sector Mental Health Network
Meets quarterly and is open to all VCS organisations with an involvement or interest in mental health in B&NES. The network elects voluntary sector reps onto the Mental Health Service development and Implementation Group and receives feedback. It provides an opportunity for VCS agencies working in mental health to share information and work together as well as a forum for VCS to discuss issues and consult with policy makers in the statutory sector.
Click here for forthcoming meetings
Click here for notes of previous meetings
If you would like to be added to the mailing list or want any further information please complete the enquiry form here
B&NES Voluntary Sector Older People's Network
The network meets four times a year. It is open to all voluntary sector groups with an interest or involvement in older people's services in B&NES, including older people's groups. The network gives members a chance to share information and hear about the latest developments in older people's services locally. It also means groups can to respond to, and inform service planners about, issues that affect voluntary organisations and older people generally. For more information complete an enquiry form here.
Information
We produce In Contact our regular monthly newsletter. We also produce regular ebulletins for people working in B&NES. We are always keen to include voluntary sector information in our publications. If you have any news or views to share please put the details on our enquiry form
Representation
In B&NES we provide representation on a range of multi agency joint planning groups including:
- Local Area Agreement Project Board
- Local Area Agreement VCS Steering Group
- Mental Health Service Development and Implementation Group
- Public Health Service Development and Implementation Group
- Patient and Public Involvement Development and Implementation Group
- Obesity Strategy Group
- Compact Board
If you would like more information or are interested in becoming a rep please click here and complete an enquiry form
B&NES Compact
The Compact is an agreement between voluntary and statutory organisations about the way they work together. The B&NES Compact, aims to improve mutual understanding and encourage a more effective working relationship. The Codes of Good Practice give more detailed guidance on how this agreement will operate in the four main areas of, Equalities, Funding, Involvement and Volunteering. Final versions of the Compact documents can be downloaded here. A draft code of good practice on Community Groups is being developed. There is also a Local Compact Board. Ronnie Wright from The Care Forum is the Champion for the Code of Good Practice on Involvement and sits on the Compact Board.
To see the B&NES Compact Click
ChangeUp
ChangeUp is a government initiative to strengthen the voluntary, community and social enterprise sectors. The Care Forum is a member of the ChangeUp consortium covering South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset. Click here for more information on ChangeUp
Contact Us
We want to hear from you. If you have any thoughts about our services, would like to be a rep, have information you would like included in our information service, or would like to meet up to find out more about what we do, contact The Care Forum here.
Useful links
B&NES Local Strategic Partnership
Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust
Room 102, The Care Forum's unique online database of local and nation services, groups and organisations that relate to health and well-being.